Nearly a third of all incidents at pubs in Corby throughout 2007 and 2008 happened at or outside the Village Inn and Madison's Storm Nightclub, including 45 violent offences.

Violence around the Corby Candle, in Elizabeth Street, was third in the list with 30 crimes.

There were 340 crimes at all pubs across the town, although there was a reduction of 22 incidents in 2008 compared with 2007.

The figures, revealed under the Freedom of Information Act, come just days after a 34-year-old man was attacked by a group of five men in the car park of the Phoenix pub in Beanfield Avenue.

Staff at Madison's and the Village Inn hit back strongly at the figures, saying most of the crimes happened outside their premises.

Operations manager at the Village Inn Mick Willey said: "There are a lot of incidents recorded as taken place in the Village Inn that have nothing to do with the Village Inn.

"If an incident on the street is reported by our door staff, the incident is automatically recorded as being in the Village Inn.

"There is little or no police presence on weekend nights unless there is a special operation.

"We are constantly complaining to the police that we are not getting the service we should be.

"I dispute that the Village Inn is the most violent pub. I get a little bit cross when incidents get recorded as happening in the Village Inn."

Owner of Madison's Paul Morgan said: "The Old Village is the most compact area in the town. There are about five licensed premises very close to each other.

"If something happens outside near the roundabout, it's often registered as happening here."

In the latest assault between midnight and 12.30am on Sunday at the Phoenix pub, the victim received bruising to his face. The attackers were all described as white men aged between 19 and 25.

Northamptonshire Police were unavailable for comment yesterday about the crime figures.

Witnesses to the Sunday incident, or anyone with information, should call police on 03000 111 222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.